VEHICLE GUIDEWAY DYNAMIC INTERACTION IN MAGLEV SYSTEMS/

The importance of vehicle/guideway dynamics in maglev systems is discu ssed. The particular interests associated with modeling vehicle/guidew ay interactions and explaining response characteristics of maglev syst ems for a multicar, multiload vehicle traversing on a single- or doubl e-span flexible guideway are considered, with an emphasis on vehicle/g uideway coupling effects, comparison of concentrated and distributed l oads, and ride comfort. Coupled effects of vehicle/guideway interactio ns over a wide range of vehicle speeds with various vehicle and guidew ay parameters are investigated and appropriate criteria for decoupling at critical vehicle speeds or crossing frequencies are identified.